CHAPTER EIGHT

NORA POV

I leave the conference room, but the interrogation is still in my head.

My feet keep getting heavier as I walk to my desk. The questions Davis asked keep ringing like a bell as I walk down the hallway.

The three years, the family, how long have you known Jayden?

None of those questions scare me as much as the way he looked after my phone lit up.

He didn’t see the notification, not properly, but he saw me, my reaction, and that makes it worse.

I slowly sit on my chair and force my breathing to calm down before anyone notices anything unusual.

Around me, the office activities go on as if nothing happened. Phones ring, keyboards clack, and low conversations fill the room.

Everything looks normal.

I unlock my phone under the desk.

Three missed reminders from Bright Stars Preschool.

One message from Lucy.

“Call me when you’re free.”

My stomach drops.

Lucy will never ask me to call unless something is wrong.

Someone passes before I open the message. I look toward the executive corridor when Davis’s office door opens.

He steps out with his assistant beside him. He’s saying something too quietly. I can’t hear him, but I can see his mouth moving.

He doesn’t look at me.

That makes me more uncomfortable than it should.

Somewhere between the conference room and this desk, I should start expecting his attention. The realization makes me not feel like myself.

He continues down the corridor without stopping, all his movements calm and controlled, as if our conversation has already disappeared with the rest of his day.

I look away before he disappears from my sight.

I tell myself the meeting is over, but I don’t believe it.

A familiar voice pulls me back from my thoughts.

“You survived.”

I don’t need to look up before I know who it is.

Jayden.

He drops a file on my desk before leaning one shoulder against the partition, looking very relaxed for someone who’s already caused enough trouble today.

“I wasn’t aware my survival concerned you.”

“It does when I’m partly responsible.”

I finally lift my eyes to look at him.

“You weren’t.”

He doesn’t look convinced.

“I interrupted that meeting.”

“You interrupted everyone’s meeting.”

He shakes his head.

“No.” His smile fades. “I interrupted yours.”

I tighten my fingers around my phone.

“Lower your voice.”

“No one’s listening.”

“I said lower your voice.”

That tone finally gets through to him.

The easy grin disappears.

For a moment, none of us says anything.

After a few seconds, he lets out a quiet sigh.

“I didn’t mean to make things worse.”

“You already did.”

“Nora—”

“No.”

I shake my head before he can continue.

“Don’t mention my name like we’re having a casual conversation after what happened.”

He draws his brows together.

“I slipped.”

“You don’t slip.”

“I do.”

“You notice everything.”

The corner of his mouth lifts for a second, then it’s gone.

“Only when it matters.”

The answer lands harder than I expect because he’s right.

I’ve spent the last three years doing exactly that.

Jayden folds his arms across his chest, his expression turning more serious than I’ve seen it all day.

“He asked about me, didn’t he?”

I don’t answer. I don’t need to.

The look on my face tells him enough.

“He did,” he says quietly.

I glance around to make sure no one is paying attention before lowering my voice.

“You need to stop talking to me at work.”

He squeezes his eyes in confusion.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“Because Davis asked one question?”

“He asked several.”

“And?”

“And he noticed things he’s supposed to have noticed.”

Jayden studies me for a few seconds before his expression gets serious again.

“What exactly did he ask?”

I hesitate.

The pause lasts only a few moments, but I know he catches it.

“It was that bad?”

“He asked how long we’ve known each other.”

Jayden lets out a slow breath.

“I can handle that.”

“He also noticed your joke during the meeting.”

I notice his jaw tighten for a second, like he’s trying to hold back whatever he wants to say.

“He remembered?”

“Every word.”

He says something under his breath.

I don’t catch it.

“What?”

“I underestimated him.”

“You think?”

He rubs the back of his neck before looking toward Davis’s office.

“I knew he was observant.”

“You clearly didn’t.”

He lets out a short breath.

“No,” he admits. “I didn’t.”

There’s a silent moment between us.

For the first time since I’ve known Jayden, he doesn’t look embarrassed. He looks concerned.

That worries me more than anything he’s said.

He looks back at me.

“Did you tell him anything?”

“The truth.”

“All of it?”

“No.”

He nods slowly.

“Good.”

Something about that single word irritates me.

“Good?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t get to decide what’s good for my life.”

“I wasn’t trying to.”

“Weren’t you?”

He adjusts his shoulders.

“Nora, I’m trying to help.”

“You really think this ends with one meeting?”

I look straight into his eyes. Suddenly, every word matters.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean…” His eyes shift toward Davis’s office before returning to mine. “Men like Davis Rowan don’t ask personal questions unless something catches their attention.”

“It doesn’t mean anything.”

“It might.”

“It won’t.”

He studies me for a long moment. His expression doesn’t change.

“I hope you’re right.”

A chill runs down my spine.

“What aren’t you saying?”

He hesitates.

That alone is enough to make my stomach tighten.

“Jayden.”

“I’ve worked with him long enough to know one thing.”

“What?”

“When something doesn’t make sense to him…”

He pauses, his voice dropping even lower.

“…he doesn’t forget it.”

His words stay with me. I hate how right he is.

I force myself to look away.

“This conversation is over.”

“Nora.”

“I mean it.”

He studies me for a moment, then nods.

“Fine.”

He carries the file he brought over and places it neatly in front of me.

“I actually did have a reason for coming.”

I blink.

“What?”

“Finance needs these projections before lunch.”

I stare at him.

“You used work as an excuse?”

“I needed to warn you.”

“I didn’t ask for a warning.”

“No.”

He manages a faint smile.

“But I think you’ll remember it.”

He turns to leave. After three steps, he stops without looking back.

“Oh… and one more thing.”

I feel my heart drop.

“What?”

“You keep worrying about what Davis asked you today.”

His eyes meet mine.

“The problem isn’t what he asked you.”

I hold my phone more tightly.

“It’s what he’ll ask me next.”